Page 62 of Off Camera
I stop pacing, an idea coming to mind. I glance at Dallas and grin. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“I’m not helping you break the law,” he draws out. “I have a kid to raise, and I’d like to go on my honeymoon before I go to jail.”
“Is getting access to the Thunderhawks’ stadium breaking the law?” I ask.
“How am I supposed to get you into their stadium? With the key I have?”
“A signed jersey, actually,” I say.
“Why not buy a ticket to their preseason game?” Maverick suggests. “It’s on Thursday night, and you all don’t play until Sunday. Then you’re already in.”
“I need access to Avery’s office without a ton of people around.” Dallas’s eyes widen, and I shake my head. “Relax. I’m not doing anything bad, and no one is going to get hurt. I promise I’ll behave. It’s only rubber ducks, not weapons of mass destruction.”
“I don’t know who the hell this Reid Duncan is.” Maverick stares at me proudly. “But I like him. He’s fun as shit. Can I come?”
“Only if you stay quiet,” I say, and he pumps his fist in the air. “You’re a terrible liar, and I don’t want you to give us away.”
“I swear.” He puts his hand on his heart. “I’ll uphold your request, Plant Daddy, and treat this with the utmost care and responsibility.”
“Will you sign a jersey for me, Dal?”
“Yeah.” He sighs. “Only because I know this is you suppressing feelings for her, not actual fighting.”
I snort and pull up the Thunderhawks’ website. There has to be someone I can track down to help me out. An impressionable intern or someone who knows the resale value of Dallas’s signature.
“She wants to wring my neck. I want to mute her on every possible platform where she has a digital presence and find a way to hack into her computer so I can see all of her upcoming ideas. Not sure that’s the best definition of romantic,” I say.
“Ah. Young love.” Maverick sighs. “Those days were fun.”
I roll my eyes.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned to do well, it’s keep my emotions in check. Staying balanced and even-keeled.
I might be the guy who loves relationships. The guy who craves a partner and someone to do life with, but that doesn’t mean I’d ever fall in love with Avery fucking Sinclair.
That would be playing with fire.
A stupid game with stupid prizes, and the last thing I want to do is burn.
Not when I can win and watch her catch flames on the way down.
NINETEEN
AVERY
I slideinto the booth across from Maven and bat away the leaves of a plant sitting on the windowsill.
Plant.
Reid.
Motherfucker.
Do I need to be reminded of him everywhere I go?
I glare at her and fold my arms across my chest. “You have some explaining to do.”
She hides behind a menu. “Hi, Ave. Good to see you too. How was your trip? And the keynote speech? I bet you smashed it like the boss bitch you are.”
